ploopyco / pnp-feeder

An automated feeder for pick and place machines.

The Ploopy Pick-And-Place Feeder

By some stroke of luck, you've made your way here. The Ploopy Pick-And-Place Feeder. Your life will never be the same.

This repository contains all of the design and production files necessary to make a Ploopy Pick-And-Place automated feeder, as well as its mating base plate. We've also included some kick-ass documentation in the Wiki on how to get it made and assemble it.

These feeders have been designed for use with standard 8mm paper and plastic tapes. This sort of tape usually accommodates things like 0603 resistors, 0805 capacitors, SOT-23 devices, and many more.

Check out a video of it in operation in a LitePlacer open-source pick-and-place machine right here.

What are you waiting for? Your new life awaits.

pnp-feeder's Issues

Springs too weak to fully ratchet

I found springs on amazon that met the design specifications, but I am finding they are too weak to ensure a proper ratchetting. Can you either provide a source for the springs used or have an option for a stronger spring? its the last ~1/8" where the current springs are failing to meet the push forces required to drive the ratchet. I have ended up doubling the springs (twisting them together) to get a working setup on the first unit. I have not tried this yet with my PNP to ensure it works but the ratchet is reliable now

here are the ones I purchased
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D771QGH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Please establish a standard direction for the magnets!

I encourage you to set some standard for which way the magnets are oriented. This way multiple people who use these feeders can easily share them with each other.

Add Mounting screw holes to the base plate design

Not sure what you're setup is, but I have my PNP on a plywood table and need a way to permanently affix the base plate to the table. Sure tape will work I suppose, but not the cleanest look and a lot harder to get say 5-8x2 grid established. About 4 screw holes should about do it nicely. Something to consider adding to the base plate

Add "paper" to top plate similar to "plastic"

just to make it all uniform and error free for other users besides those of us running the 3d printer side

Magnet spec missing

What are the dimensions required for the magnet. That information is missing from the wiki.

Where are the source files?

Is this a closed source project?

Not the biggest contribution

I have had problems getting the springs to sit in place so I have made a small keeper to glue in the holes at each end which has solved my problem.

OpenScad Code
$fn = 50; cylinder(1,d=5.6, false); cylinder(5,d=4.9, false);

If you render this in openScad and then save the STL. You get a nice little spring keeper. I'll see if there is a better way to add the STL and STEP files to this repo.

More aggressive ratchet wheel teeth on inside

I found with my printer the ratchet wheel the inner teeth were too rounded and I tended to have 1-2 teeth where the ratchet would not catch to continue driving the wheel around (without any drag from tape yet even).

I modified the design to have these inner teeth be more aggressive to ensure a complete ratchetting. This required a minor trim to the advancement tongue with an exacto knife but works reliably now

Tape Advance Wheel aggressive teeth.zip

Importance of PLA color?

I see you run a grey and black color schema, curious if this is necessary, or if it was an arbitrary decision? I understand the value in keeping the two styles the same, makes total sense, just curious if I need to go buy grey and black PLA specifically or if other colors would work. I am thinking to have a coded system for different types of parts, say white body with blue top for paper taped resistors, white body with red top for paper taped capacitors, etc, etc. Not sure I will end up there, but I will end up using a lot of different components and sizes over time so having them somewhat organized can only help my cause.